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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Near-infrared evolution of brightest cluster galaxies in the most X-ray luminous clusters since z = 1
AU - Stott, J. P.
AU - Edge, A. C.
AU - Smith, G. P.
AU - Swinbank, A. M.
AU - Ebeling, H.
PY - 2008/3/11
Y1 - 2008/3/11
N2 - We investigate the near-infrared evolution of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) from a sample of rich galaxy clusters since z ∼ 1. By employing an X-ray selection of L X > 10 44 erg s -1, we limit environmental effects by selecting BCGs in comparably high-density regions. We find a positive relationship between X-ray and near-infrared luminosity for BCGs in clusters with L X > 5 × 10 44 erg s -1. Applying a correction for this relation, we reduce the scatter in the BCG absolute magnitude by a factor of 30 per cent. The near-infrared J - K colour evolution demonstrates that the stellar population in BCGs has been in place since at least z = 2, and that we expect a shorter period of star formation than that predicted by current hierarchical merger models. We also confirm that there is a relationship between 'blue' J - K colour and the presence of BCG emission lines associated with star formation in cooling flows.
AB - We investigate the near-infrared evolution of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) from a sample of rich galaxy clusters since z ∼ 1. By employing an X-ray selection of L X > 10 44 erg s -1, we limit environmental effects by selecting BCGs in comparably high-density regions. We find a positive relationship between X-ray and near-infrared luminosity for BCGs in clusters with L X > 5 × 10 44 erg s -1. Applying a correction for this relation, we reduce the scatter in the BCG absolute magnitude by a factor of 30 per cent. The near-infrared J - K colour evolution demonstrates that the stellar population in BCGs has been in place since at least z = 2, and that we expect a shorter period of star formation than that predicted by current hierarchical merger models. We also confirm that there is a relationship between 'blue' J - K colour and the presence of BCG emission lines associated with star formation in cooling flows.
KW - Cosmology: observations
KW - Galaxies: clusters: general
KW - Galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD
KW - Galaxies: evolution
KW - Infrared: galaxies
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12807.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12807.x
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:40249083002
VL - 384
SP - 1502
EP - 1510
JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
SN - 0035-8711
IS - 4
ER -